Improvement in apparatus for inhaling vapors



UNITED .STATES PATENT OEEICE.

AUGUSTO P. LIGHTHILL, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FOR INHALING VAPORS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUSTO PONHAM LIGHTHILL, M. D., of Boston, in thecounty of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new orimproved eXhal-ation apparatus to be employed in the cure or alleviationof eatarrh, or in the application of medicated vapor to the nasal oraural passages; and I do hereby declare the same to be fully describedin the following specification and represented ir the accompanyingdrawings, of which- Figure 1 denotes a front elevation, and Fig. 2 avertical section, ofit.

In such drawings, A denotes a bottle, which may be constructed of glassor other suitable material, glass being what I generally prefer for itsconstruction. A cork or stopper, B, inserted in the neck or mouth of thebottle, has three tubes, C (l and D, inserted in it and extending aboveit, in manner as represented in Fig. 1. The two tubes C G are thevaporducts for the nostrils. They Yextend through the cork or stopper,open into the interior space of the bottle, and terminate at a shortdistance below the lower surface of the cork. The third tube-viz.,D-should pass through the cork and extend nearly down to the bottom ofthe interior` space of the bottle,'the said tube being open at eachextremity. A flexible or india-rubber pipe, Df, having a suitablemouth-piece or short glass tube, D2, fitted to or into one end of it,has inserted in its other end the upper part of the tube D, theconnections between the tubes D, D', and D2 being air-tight. Instead of`these tubes, one single tube, either flexible or inflexible, may beused 3 but the apparatus, when made with the ilexi ble tube D, or thesame and the mouth-piece D2, will operate to better advantage, or isdecidedly more convenient for use than when the blast-tube is in onepiece and inflexible.

In the use of this apparatus a medicament or liquid is to be supposed tobe within the bottle A, and to stand therein at any altitude above thelower end of the pipe D. Under these circumstances the party who may usethe apparatus should not only insert the tubes CIO within his nostrils,but should take the mouth-piece D2 into his mouth or between his lips.Now, by blowing air from his lungs into the tube D such air will passinto and through the tube D and the liquid within the vessel A, and willvaporize more or less of the liquid. The air charged with the medicatedvapor will be blown through the tubes C C and into and up the nostrilsor through the nasal passages, and so as to deposit the vapor on themucous membranes thereof.

From the above it will be seen that the apparatus operates by exhalationof the air from the lungs of the patient, and not by inhalation, or bydrawing air into the nose by the usual process of inhalation.

In catarrhal affections of the nasal passages inhalation of vaporizedair into them has a tendency to canse the pus or mucus deposits thereinto be drawn into the throat, where such pus or mucus is liable toincrease the disease. This is to be avoided, if possible,and to this endthe eXhalation apparatus is to ,be preferred, as by the ei'ort made inthe use of it by the patientvto expel the air from his lungs themedicated vapor will be driven up the nose and against the diseasedmembranes or surfaces, with little or no tendency to affect thenaturaldischarge of the pus or mucusviz., through the nostrils.

I would remark that instead of two nostrilpipes, G C, but one may beused, but the ap paratus will be better and more convenient whenconstructed with two of them. So with one vent-pipe and withasuiiciently long iiexible pipe, D', the apparatus may be used by apatient for blowing vaporized air into either of his ears,in order forthe cure or alleviation of disease thereof. used for the treatment ofdisease in other of the ducts or passages of the body.

I claim- The exhalation apparatus, substantially `as and for use inmanner as described.

A. P. LIGHTHILL. Witnesses R. H. EDDY, 'WM. R. LANE.

It may also be

